Thursday, 15 October 2015

THE SIEGE OF BELLEISLE (song)

THE SIEGE

OF

BELLEISLE.

Printed and sold by J. Jennings, No. 15, Water lane, Fleet street.

COME all you bold Britons that are prating at home,I'll tell you how the seige of Belleisle it began :On the eighth day of April we attempted to land,But we were drove back as you shall understand,For the French boys they came down so thick on the sand,

Our grenadiers climb'd the rocks that were high,In thinking to make the proud monsieurs fly ;But they were so numerous no good could be done,For the French they came down like the motes in the sun,But still British boys they refused to run.

We retired to our shipping and rested awhile,'Till the twenty-second, when kind fortune did smile ;Our shipping did cover us while we did land,Which made it so hot monsieur could not stand,For still we kept firing for to clear the land.

Then we march'd up the island and they all fled away,We saw nothing of them until the next day ;At the end of our town they formed two lines,For to draw on our army and then spring their mines,But providence prevented their evil designs.

Then we pitched our camp on the island secure,To make breast-works and batteries we straight did pre-pare,

At breast-works and batteries we work'd night and day,Their shot and their shells upon us did play,And many a bold British corpse there did lay.

Our Royal Artillery acted their part,
Against their strong walls they play'd away smart ;Their thirty-two pounders they play'd away fast,While our underminers prepar'd for a blast,Which made the old governor surrender at last.

It was on Whitsun-Wednesday we entered town,The bells they did ring and the music did sound ;We drank good healths in flowing bowls,
Success to King George and all his loyal souls,And may we bold Britons never be controul'd.

So now to conclude here's an end of my song,Belleisle is our own, we have sent the French home,We've sent them to Louis this news for to bring,That Belleisle is govern'd bya British King,Success to his army and long may he reign.